Torres Strait

Clustered above Cape York, the virtually untouched 274 Torres Strait Islands, including Thursday and Horn Islands are home to thriving Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures and a rich World War II and pearl diving history.

Things to do

Visit the Gab Titui Art Gallery on Thursday Island to admire the vibrant headdresses and artwork of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Or, tour the islands by boat with a private charter.

Visit the community markets or pick up a souvenir from the local shops on Thursday Island. You can also buy artwork and traditional trinkets from Bayo Blue Gallery.

Taste authentic Japanese cuisine and take a grand tour of a working pearl farm on Friday Island or join an emotive and history-soaked walking tour on Horn Island to explore a WWII airbase and retrace the veteran’s steps.

Horn Island is part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, Australia's northernmost point. Located approximately 17 kilometres off Queensland's coast and just south of Papua New Guinea, Horn Island offers a truly remarkable island experience.

Leave your watch behind when you go to Thursday Island as this colourful island paradise is where time really does seem to stand still. It is one of 274 islands which lie between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea in the Torres Strait.

Seisia is Australia's most northerly community and departure point for a range of marine based activities - day trips with fishing guides, tours to explore the Torres Strait Islands or a walk to the end of the jetty, the social epicentre of the community.

Rich with Aboriginal culture and Australian pioneering history, Cape York is an untamed wilderness area waiting to be explored. The journey through Cape York Peninsula to the top of Australia is an epic adventure taking in memorable pubs, ancient rock art and spectacular natural scenery.

One of Queensland’s most spectacular and least dived shipwrecks is the RMS Quetta. In 1890 the RMS Quetta, 120 metre passenger and cargo ship, was on a voyage from Brisbane to London when the vessel hit an uncharted rock north of Cape York.

Holmes Reef is the closest Coral Sea Reef to Cairns and often visited on special expeditions to the Northern Coral Sea. The reef is actually split into two sections, known as East Holmes and West Holmes, and both have large lagoons with safe anchorages.

How to get there

Flights depart daily from Cairns to Horn Island and will have you touching down in less than two hours. From there it’s just a 10 minute boat ride to the capital, Thursday Island.

But if you’ve got time to spare (and a sense of adventure!) grab the keys to your 4WD, tee up your favourite driving playlist and hit the open road. Check out this 7-day drive itinerary from Cairns to Cape York for inspiration. Once you reach the tip, catch a ferry from Bamaga to Thursday Island.

Where to stay

Choose from three accommodation providers on Thursday Island, all boasting waterfront views of the harbour. These are the Grand Hotel, Jardine Motel and the Torres Strait Motel.